Pushing Faith and Family Aside
Social Media responses filter the ideal life that you currently pursue. When you really examine your future and dream of college, a family and career – your dreams are most likely quickly squashed by the reality of college expenses, a rising economy, online dating and increased divorce rates. These realities are daunting, leading you to change your dream.
With increased technology and globalization, aspiring for fortune and fame simply seems easier than acquiring the aforementioned college degree, career and family. There has always been an underlining hope or desire for stardom within society. But even the definition of celebrity has changed. People used to pursue fortune in the “American Dream” and fame through Hollywood or the music industry. Now, we’re looking for popularity in Facebook shares, Instagram likes, going viral on Tik Tok or stardom in YouTube views.
This shift means that we’re moving away from an ideal life centered around community, family, morals, values, ethics and religious faith. Rather, we’re pursuing an ideal life around self-promotion, personal ambition, pride and individualism. Americans are now more likely to dream about making and spending money to achieve recognition. Rather than dreaming about an immense idea that’s greater than themselves, which only God could place on their hearts. This means that not only are the concepts of the Bible becoming harder to understand, they’re becoming entirely irrelevant. Teachings and perceptions that have been a central element of life for thousands of years have become insignificant within ten years.
The Bible, Jesus and church aren’t suddenly inapplicable; it’s our society that has changed so drastically that we’ve chosen to see these sacred materials as obsolete. When we lose track of the importance and relevance of these teachings, we lose hope and faith. The shift that has occurred is a sign that we’re living in days of faithlessness and hopelessness.
So, when we feel hopeless and lost in the “ways of the world,” we must look to the ideals God has instilled deep within our heart, even if they seem old fashioned. Psalm 31: 24 says, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” As our society continues to change, it will be more and more difficult to center our hope and our future on the Lord. But He will give us the necessary strength to bring us back to His teachings and views.
We must call upon our family to remind us of who we are. We must continue to strive for greatness in our education because God made each of us intelligent and beautiful in our own unique way. We must pursue a dream that is beyond us so we can see God’s provision and glory. God will always guide us closer to Him. He will not give up on our dream. We must not give up on Him. “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5)
In order to regain the essentials of faith and hope, we must keep our eyes on the Lord. We must continue to seek Him, even when He seems obsolete. He has been the one constant over years and years, so He must always be the center of our hope. If our hope comes from our own ambition and expectation, we will be disappointed. His hope for our future will not disappoint. He is the one who has great things planned for our life. He wants to guide us into that realization. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. God wants to give you hope for something wonderful. Hold on to that hope and hold on to Him.
